Key actuated punch



2 SHEETS-SHEET l F. J. FURMAN KEY ACTUATED PUNCH WE rr FFH/YK J; fZ/RMHNMM jim ATTORNEY TEE? Filed Feb. 14, 1950 m Jl/11111111 Dec. 9, 3952 F.J, FURMAN KEY ACTUATED PUNCH 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 14. 1950INVENTOR FRAN/ J. FURM//V ATToRNr-z Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATEOFFICE KEY ACTUATED PUNCH Application February 14, 1950, Serial No.144,165

2 Claims.

This invention relates to key actuated tape punch apparatus for thecontrol tapes used to control the operation of well-known accountingmachines and more particularly to arneans of restoring the keys beforeactually punching the tape.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an economical keyactuated punch for punching the control tapes in which it is possible todepress all keys in a column of the tape and check them before actuallypunching the tape, thereby allowing for making corrections as the keysare set from a chart which is prepared according to a particular job andchecking the depressed keys against this chart.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of arelease mechanism for releasing the key latch after the depressed keyshave been checked and allowing restoration of the keys before thepunching operation takes place.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel arrangement ofparts controlling the punching operation of the key actuated tape punchapp-aratus.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the tape perforating unit showing the keysin a normal, unlatched position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the tape perforating unit showing a key ina depressed, latched position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the perforating unit taken along the line3-3 o1" Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showingthe key latch releasing mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. l, 2 and 3 the perforating apparatus is shown toinclude individual punch elements ill, one for each column ofperforations, and a common die block I I. The punch elements areslidably arranged in a common punch guide block i2. Each punch elementIii is provided with a ange Ilia which is engaged by one end of o,crank-arm I4. An individual crankarm is provided for each punch elementid. Each crank-arm Ii is provided with a yoke portion Elio, a bifurcatedportion having arms I/ib and Ilc, an integral lug portion Ild to whichis connected a spring I3; an integral flange portion ille and a 2slotted portion I/if. Punch elements It are normally held in raisedpositions by the arms of the bifurcated end of crank-arms Ill which arebiased upwardly by said springs I3.

An elongated cam or eccentric E5 is carried by, or if desired, formed onshaft I6 which shaft is suitably journalled in side plate 3l and an endplate not shown. The eccentric I5 is located within the bows of yokeportion Mia of the individual and adjacent arranged crank-arms tosupport and oscillate said crank-arms. Normally, during rotation of theeccentric, the crankarms are moved downwardly and upwardly (see Fig. 1)by the supporting eccentric about the pivotal connections formed by theends of the crank-arms engaging the flanges ia, of the related punchelements I9, Under these conditions, it is seen, that the free or righthand ends of the crankarms are partially rotated, first in one directionand then the other direction, or stated in other words, the said freeends of the crank-arms are oscillated.

Individual pivoted members or latch arms I9 are provided, one 4for eachcrank-arm, and are pivotally mounted in a slotted guide block 20 securedto side plate 3l and an end plate not shown. The upper portion IQa oflatch `arms I9 comprises a key lever. Near the lower end of each latcharm an offset portion I9b is provided which is disposed in closeproximity to, but normally held out of the path of the flanged ends Ideof the crankarms I4 by means of coil spring 2i. suitably disposed stopguides I'I and I8 are provided to maintain proper alignment of theoscillated crank-arms and the latch arms respectively.

Whenever it is desired to operate a punch element I0, the related latcharm I9 is partially rotated in a counterclockwise direction (see Fig.l), against the action of coil spring 2|, so that its offset portion ISbengages and latches the free ilanged end Me of the related crank-arm. Inthe present embodiment, the shaft I6 carrying the eccentric I5 is notconstantly rotated, but operated in a start stop fashion, and the latcharms Iii are arranged to be positioned to latch the desired crank-armsbefore the rotated eccentric displaces or oscillates the crank-arm.Thus, upon latching of a crank-arm I4 and rotation of the eccentric I5,the crank-arm is positioned, by the eccentric, about the pivotalconnection formed by the latch arm I9 and the latched end Ille ofcrank-arm It, to force the related punch element i@ downwardly (see Fig.2), thereby causing a sheet, such as a paper tape 3c, interposed betweenguide block I2 and die block II to be perforated. The eccentric I5 isshaped so that the lower end, or cutting edge, of the displaced punchedelement is forced through the paper tape, and then retracted therefromimmediately and restored to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. Slottedportion I4f of each crank-arm I4 receives rod 38 which serves as a guidefor each oscillating crank-arm.

Locking means are also provided for holding the displaced latch arm orarms I9 in a latched position. This means comprises locking arm 22, onearm being provided for each latch arm I9, and is freely mounted on ashaft 23. Shaft 23 is rotatably mounted on side plate 3'I and an endplate not shown. Locking arm 22 is biased upwardly by means of coilspring 24 secured to release bail 2B, thereby enabling said locking armto be raised in the path of the latch arm offset portions IBb when thedesired latch arms I9 are in a displaced position. Release bail 28 isrigidly secured to shaft 23 by arms 34 and collars 33. Locking arm 22engages offset portion |91) locking the latch arm I8 in the latchingposition.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, shaft 2G is driven from any suitable sourcesuch as a motor and in turn drives shaft I6 through bevel gearing shownat 36 in Fig. 3. Rigidly mounted on shaft 26 is a cam member 25. Releasearm 21 is rigidly mounted by means of collar 3I to shaft 23 and ismaintained in a normal position by coil spring 32. The raised positionof locking arm 22 is maintained until near the end of the cycle ofrotation of the shaft I6 when cam 25 strikes release arm 21, forcing itdownwardly and thereby rotating shaft 23 in a counterclockwise directionas viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Release bail 28 will rotate With shaft 23and lower locking arms 22 to release latch arms I9.

It is desirable in such a key actuated punch to depress all keys in acolumn of a tape and be able to check them before actually punching thetape. This allows for making corrections as the keys are set from achart which is prepared according to a particular job and checking thedepressed keys against this chart. The prior art has not provided ameans whereby the keys may be released before punching when an error isfound as a result of the checking of the keys against the chart.

In accordance with this invention, provision is made to positivelyrestore the depressed keys before punching when an error is found. Forthis purpose release bail 28 has been provided with an error key 29mounted thereon. When checking of the keys reveals an error, key 29 maybe depressed. Release bail 28 will rotate with shaft 23 in acounterclockwise direction (Figs. 1 andv2) which movement will lowerlocking arms 22 thereby enabling springs 2I to restore related latcharms I9 to their original positions.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a key actuated tape punch apparatus comprising a plurality ofpunch elements, a plurality of crank-arms, each engaging a related punchelement, a plurality of pivoted members for latching a relatedcrank-arm, a plurality of locking members mounted on a common shaft formaintaining said pivoted members and said crank-arms in a latchedposition, a device operative at will for` effecting a restoration ofsaid pivoted members to their original unlatched position, comprising arelease bail rigidly attached to the locking member shaft and an errorkey carried by said release bail.

2. The mechanism of claim l, said locking members comprising individuallocking arms, one for each pivoted member, with said locking arms beingseparately and sequentially operable.

FRANK J. FURMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 755,168 Pidgin Mar. 22, 19041,800,596 Bryce Apr. 14, 1931 2,346,267 Mills et al Apr. 11, 1944

